Queensland, 31, Boilermaker

A hardworking Aussie tradie by day, Brent Draper knows this opportunity in the MasterChef kitchen is a big one. Keen to explore life away from the tools, he’s ready to step into the kitchen and explore his passion: working with culinary delights.

Born in the rural Queensland town of Beaudesert, Brent is the oldest of four children and spent several years in the Northern Territory before stints in Brisbane, Perth and Palm Beach.

He admits his path to MasterChef Australia started on shaky ground, cooking out of necessity when he lived in a share house at the age of 18 with roomates who couldn’t turn on a stove. Dinner duties fell to Brent and he soon found time to master more than the basics, turning the necessity into a passion.

A master of remaining calm under pressure, Brent hopes his strengths in the kitchen will be working with proteins including fish and lamb and says his favourite vegetable to cook with is eggplant, citing the versatility of the humble ingredient. Brent’s Middle Eastern lamb with roasted eggplant and flatbread wowed the judges at auditions, securing him his coveted apron.

When he’s not cooking up a storm, Brent enjoys surfing and fishing, and says his greatest ambition is to give his adored two-year-old son, Alfie, a lifetime of adventure. He admits his weakness is working with sweet treats and his fondest food memory is a night out with his wife and newborn son at Chin Chin in Melbourne’s iconic Flinders Lane.

With a dream to one day travel Australia in a campervan, cooking and teaching others how to prepare quick and easy meals, Brent takes comfort in the support of his amazing wife Shonleigh back home.